Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 3: On the occasion of the upcoming Diwali festival, the Andaman & Nicobar Fire & Emergency Services has appealed to the general public to celebrate the festival with joy, happiness and, most importantly, safety.
Diwali is a festival of lights and celebration. However, improper handling and storage of firecrackers, negligence while lighting fireworks and lack of adequate safety precautions may lead to fire accidents, injuries and loss of property. In order to ensure a safe, peaceful and incident-free Diwali, the general public, as well as all persons engaged in the possession, storage and sale of fireworks, are advised to strictly observe the following fire safety precautions.
A. Fire Safety Precautions for the General Public
DO’S:
• Purchase only quality and legally approved firecrackers from authorised sellers.
• Burst firecrackers only in open spaces, such as parks or large grounds, away from buildings, vehicles and inflammable materials.
• Keep buckets of water and sand readily available to deal with any accidental fire.
• Prefer wearing cotton clothes while bursting crackers, as synthetic and loose garments may easily catch fire.
• Ensure that children burst firecrackers only under the close supervision of adults.
• Maintain a safe distance while lighting firecrackers and never hold them in your hands unless specifically designed for such use.
• Dispose of used firecrackers safely by soaking them in water before discarding.
• Check the direction of the wind before bursting crackers to prevent sparks from reaching nearby houses, people or combustible materials.
DON’TS:
• Never burst firecrackers inside houses, near windows, balconies or confined spaces.
• Do not wear loose-fitting or highly inflammable clothing while bursting crackers.
• Never burst firecrackers near dry leaves, gas cylinders, fuel storage areas, vehicles or other combustible materials.
• Do not attempt to relight an unexploded firecracker. Wait for some time and carefully dispose of it after soaking it in water.
• Do not burst crackers in places where they may obstruct entry points, exits or emergency escape routes.
• Never leave oil lamps, candles or diyas unattended, particularly near curtains, furniture or other combustible materials.
• Avoid bursting multiple firecrackers simultaneously or in close proximity to one another.
In case of any fire accident, burn injury or emergency, immediately seek assistance from the concerned emergency services and obtain proper medical attention. Do not attempt unsafe rescue or unverified home remedies.
B. Safety Requirements for Temporary Firecracker Shops and Sellers
All persons engaged in the possession, storage and sale of fireworks are directed to strictly comply with the provisions of the Explosives Rules, 2008, particularly Rules 84 and 85, as applicable.
The following safety measures shall be ensured:
• Fireworks shall be kept only in sheds constructed of non-flammable materials. Such sheds shall be properly closed and secured to prevent unauthorised access.
• Each temporary firecracker shop shall be located at least 3 metres away from another shop and at least 50 metres away from protected works and other places specified under the Explosives Rules, 2008, including schools, colleges, hospitals, theatres, markets, factories, places of worship, highways, public roads and overhead high-tension power lines.
• Temporary firecracker shops shall not face each other.
• No oil-burning lamps, gas lamps or naked flames shall be permitted inside the sheds or within the prescribed safety distance.
• Wherever electrical lighting is used, lights shall be fixed to the walls or ceilings and shall not be suspended by flexible wires. Switches shall be rigidly fixed to the walls, and a master switch shall be provided for each row of sheds.
• No display of fireworks shall be permitted within 50 metres of any firecracker shop.
• A single cluster of temporary firecracker shops shall not exceed 50 shops.
• Fireworks shall not be stored in shops where other goods are displayed. They shall be kept in spark-proof receptacles or in their original outer packaging.
• Fireworks shall be stored separately from regular shop traffic and away from inflammable or combustible materials.
• Fireworks opened for sale shall immediately be placed in clean, dust-free and spark-proof containers.
C. Firefighting Arrangements and Training
All temporary firecracker shops and their organisers shall ensure adequate firefighting arrangements in consultation with the Andaman & Nicobar Fire & Emergency Services. All shop owners are advised to ensure that their staff undergo basic training on the proper operation and handling of firefighting equipment and obtain training to the nearest Fire Station, so that they are equipped to respond promptly in the event of a fire emergency.
The Andaman & Nicobar Fire & Emergency Services appeals to all Islanders, shop owners, organisers and concerned authorities to extend their cooperation and strictly adhere to the prescribed fire safety measures.
Let us celebrate Diwali responsibly by preventing fire accidents, protecting lives and property, and ensuring a safe and happy festival for everyone.